Rabia Platform launches for a "new world"

The platform takes its name from the Rabia al-Adawiya Square in Egypt, home to peaceful anti-coup sit-ins that were dispersed by the Egyptian military's violent crackdown on August 14.

"Rabia platform aims to act as a common intellect, a common venue for discussion, and an announcement board," said journalist Abdurrahman Dilipak, who serves as the forum's spokesperson.

"It remains open to all individuals and institutions who want to raise their voices against oppression, coups, injustice, unfairness and lawlessness."

Dilipak said the non-profit organization would help coordinate a global network of individuals and groups willing to work towards "the creation of a new world that favors justice, peace, and freedom," one of the platform's stated goals.

"All groups and organizations that hold R4BIA meetings anywhere globally will announce their activities over www.r4biaplatform.com," Dilipak said.

- "Humanity initiative"

Since the beginning of a peaceful pro-democracy resistance against the July 3 coup d'etat which deposed Egypt's first democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi, protesters have been using and proliferating a hand gesture called the "Rabia sign" and its accompanying "R4BIA" logo.

Dilipak said the sign and its logo have become the "new symbol of the Muslim world against oppression."

"We have decided to establish the Rabia platform and launch the website www.r4biaplatform.com in order to stand with the oppressed and against the oppressor, no matter where injustice occurs and no matter whom it targets," he said.

The platform, which has already attracted "hundreds of civil society organizations from all over the world," would work to "ensure the transformation of the R4BIA spirit into a humanity initiative," he said.

- A new “point of departure"

Upon its establishment, the Rabia Platform received support from two professional associations in Turkey, Memur-Sen and Hak-Is.

Memur-Sen Chairman Ahmet Gundogdu said his organization would "side with the oppressed, and stand up for human existence, human labor and liberty."

Hak-Is President Mahmut Arslan said they would "raise the voice of this platform through our bilateral relations worldwide."

"Maybe the platform will become a new point of departure for the Muslim world," Arslan said. "The [Turkish] society does not abandon you when you take a stance for justice and against oppression. We saw this in [capital] Ankara, where most of the protesters in the streets were youngsters."

Dilipak said it is "possible to imagine a new world where peace, justice, respect for human rights and legitimacy predominate."

"The Muslim global community will have a voice in the making of this new world. R4BIA is the Muslim World proclaiming 'I have a say in the creation of a new world.'

"A new generation is up and coming: the "Rabia generation." The platform will witness the raising of this new generation and bring its members together."